Souths were good, but other teams have done similar to Saints over the last 12 months - Wire, Catalans, Leeds and us spring to mind. We would have given them a better game, as our defence is much stronger. They scored some very soft tries. The problem with the fixtures was that the NRL's best team of the 3 played SL's weakest one.

I agree, they should have played the team that got hammered by saints in pre season, couldn't beat a twelve man Widnes and struggled past a team that had just been nilled at home by Hull. That would have sorted it!

We'll look a hell of a lot better when Flower is back, but in terms of stated recruitment plans to bulk up after the roosters game the signings on two 2nd rows turned prop don't quite fit the bill. Mossop, although big has rarely played to his full weight, he's more of a solid 5-7m carry find his front type of prop than a scatter all before him prop to bust a hole down the middle.

Clubb however is starting to look like he will play well above his weight.

Mossop, Flower, Clubb and Tautai with support from the other three will be fine IMO.

If a big (and good) prop becomes available I'd hope we'd be in for them but that selection above will keep us in contention.

Souths were very impressive in ability and tactics. Also their self discipline was excellent.
There were one or two push and shove incidents likely to blow but the Souths players just turned their backs and walked away.
No joining in a risking a penalty against them. They weren't hot headed they were very disciplined.
They didn't try to referee the game although they got the benefit of the doubt even when the decisions should have been stone cold in favour of Saints.
I didn't think Saints were awful or anything like that, Souths were just so much better.
Whether Wigan or Wire would have get a more reasonable score I don't know but I'm pretty sure neither would have beaten Souths.

Not having a go here but the only learning from this game is not to try it again. It was like watching Richard Dunn when he fought Ali, or a not so funny comedian dieing on stage.
Didn't even have the benefit of producing a gallant loser, just St Helens on a fools errand.

Pur-lease. Ridiculous over-reaction. There have been blow-out scores in both directions in the WCC in the past (although most recent games have been pretty close), but you have to go back to, er, Saints

in 2003 for an equivalent tanking.

And, as noted here, Souths won their GF by about the same margin. I'm sure the Bulldogs aren't tearing their hair out about how rubbish they are.

We would have got much closer.
Pre-season is pre-season.
You beat a Cats with no half backs - and we all know how hard it is to play without half backs as Saints told us every 2 minutes last year - and a hopeless Salford.
We drew with Widnes, which is better than we usually do, and beat a top rival with a full side out, while we played without our first choice half backs - and we all know how hard etc etc.
You only had to watch the 3 world club challenge games to see who had good defensive structures and balance and who were all over the shop.
It wouldn't surprise me to see Saints miss the top 4, as Leeds, Wigan and Wire are better teams, and Cats could be if Carney fulfils his potential. All 4 of those teams put over 30 points on Saints last year, so it's not as if it would require anything other than the status quo continuing.

Quote Lingfield Warrior="Lingfield Warrior"We would have got much closer. Pre-season is pre-season. You beat a Cats with no half backs - and we all know how hard it is to play without half backs as Saints told us every 2 minutes last year - and a hopeless Salford. We drew with Widnes, which is better than we usually do, and beat a top rival with a full side out, while we played without our first choice half backs - and we all know how hard etc etc. You only had to watch the 3 world club challenge games to see who had good defensive structures and balance and who were all over the shop. It wouldn't surprise me to see Saints miss the top 4, as Leeds, Wigan and Wire are better teams, and Cats could be if Carney fulfils his potential. All 4 of those teams put over 30 points on Saints last year, so it's not as if it would require anything other than the status quo continuing.'" Of course you would have done better - losing to the mighty Bronco's proves that ... www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-pre ... 7249969106

Quote Lingfield Warrior="Lingfield Warrior"We would have got much closer. Pre-season is pre-season. You beat a Cats with no half backs - and we all know how hard it is to play without half backs as Saints told us every 2 minutes last year - and a hopeless Salford. We drew with Widnes, which is better than we usually do, and beat a top rival with a full side out, while we played without our first choice half backs - and we all know how hard etc etc. You only had to watch the 3 world club challenge games to see who had good defensive structures and balance and who were all over the shop. It wouldn't surprise me to see Saints miss the top 4, as Leeds, Wigan and Wire are better teams, and Cats could be if Carney fulfils his potential. All 4 of those teams put over 30 points on Saints last year, so it's not as if it would require anything other than the status quo continuing.'" Of course you would have done better - losing to the mighty Bronco's proves that ... www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-pre ... 7249969106

Quote No1 Saint="No1 Saint"Of course you would have done better - losing to the mighty Bronco's proves that ... www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-pre ... 7249969106'" Broncos obviously suffering from the battering they took against Wigan, were as Souths, nice and fresh from their stroll in the park against Sts took full advantage.

Quote No1 Saint="No1 Saint"Of course you would have done better - losing to the mighty Bronco's proves that ... www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-pre ... 7249969106'" Broncos obviously suffering from the battering they took against Wigan, were as Souths, nice and fresh from their stroll in the park against Sts took full advantage.

Do you have a job in marketing ?